World Cup – Uruguay-Russia

The teams of Uruguay and Russia face each other in a direct clash for the first place in Group A of the FIFA World Cup. This game is going to be played at the Samara Arena in the city of Samara.

Both sides have 6 points so far, winning their first two games in the group against Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Right now Russia have an advantage, because they have a better goal difference: +7, compared to +2 for Uruguay. This means that if their game ends with a draw, it will be Russia who will take the first place in the group.

Russia are doing great at the World Cup so far. They have scored 8 goals in their first two games, which speaks of a really good shape at the moment. In the previous round Sbornaya beat Egypt with 3-1, thanks to the goals of Denis Cheryshev and Artem Dzuyba. Ahmed Fathy from the Egyptian team scored himself an own goal as well.

Uruguay on the other hand recorded two 1-0 wins against Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Against the Green Falcons it was Luis Suarez who won them the game, scoring his first goal at the 2018 World Cup. Before this Jose Gimenez won for Uruguay the match against Egypt in the opening round.

Before the start of the World Cup the Russian fans were worried about the condition of the Sbornaya. Russia didn’t look like a team, which is ready to make something big at the competition. Now everyone is much a bigger optimist, although it’s true that Saudi Arabia and Egypt are not teams from a big class. But still – scoring 8 goals in two games at a World Cup is a respectable achievement. Now Russia will have a really tough test against Uruguay, which will show us the true levels of this team.

Uruguay on the other hand are winning their matches so far, without impressing that much. La Celeste have some spectacular players in their team, but so far they are far from breath taking – two 1-0 wins at the start. Against Russia Uruguay will have the opportunity to show their true class and take the first place in the group. The manager Oscar Tabarez is aware that Uruguay are not showing its best face so far in the competition. It’s his job to change something and make his team more spectacular to watch.

Alan Dzagoev is missing the game for Russia. The CSKA Moscow star injured himself during the opening game against Saudi Arabia. Most likely he’s going to be out until the end of the tournament, which is a bad luck for him.

Uruguay have a full squad for this match. It will be the atacking duo of Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani which Russia should be worried of. Suarez scored his first goal at the competition against Saudi Arabia, but Cavani is still pretty quiet. Will this change against Russia? We shall see, but if Suarez and Cavani start playing at their best levels, it’s going to be really hard for Sbornaya.